Table top model hot plate or warming plate appliance

ABSTRACT

A table top model hot plate or warming plate appliance wherein the side walls of the appliance have circular to oval outlines in plan view, substantially following the outlines of the vitreous ceramic top except for a hollow protrusion forming a substantially planar control panel surface which on one side merges substantially tangentially with the circular to oval outlines of the side walls and on the other side terminates in a corner-forming wall, returning to meet the side walls having circular to oval outlines, the hollow protrusion forming a box-like cavity accommodating control apparatus for the heating elements and the control panel carrying one or more operating and/or control buttons, touch pads, knobs and/or dials and optionally one or more pilot lights.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a table top model hot plate or warmingplate appliance comprising a vitreous ceramic top mounted on a body,including peripheral side walls and enclosing one or more heatingelements underneath the vitreous ceramic top, the side walls of theappliance being upright, and terminating in formations, supporting andpositioning edges of said vitreous ceramic top which has substantiallycircular to oval outlines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swiss patent specification CH 654646 A5 discloses a hot plate havingovaloid or ellipsoidal outlines in plan view European patent application0223966 A1 discloses a vitreous ceramic hot plate having circularoutlines which according to the description, may also be ovaloid. Inboth cases the control means such as switches, temperature regulatingapparatus and the like project from the side of the appliance without inany way having been integrated functionally, or design wise into theoverall design and construction of the body of the appliance. Theycreate the impression of having been added on by sheer necessityvirtually as an afterthought and no attempt has been made to create acavity for accommodating these control means in a manner which is bothfunctionally integrated into the overall design of the housing as wellas providing an aesthetically pleasing overall design concept.

Accordingly, there exists a need for appliances of the type set outabove which overcome these criticisms and which provide accommodationfor the control apparatus for such hot or heating plates, satisfactorilyfunctionally separated from the radiating heating elements and yetneatly stowed away within the outlines of the body of the appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a table top modelhot plate or warming plate appliance of the type aforesaid wherein theside walls of the appliance have circular to oval outlines in plan view,substantially following vitreous ceramic top except for a hollowprotrusion forming a substantially planar control panel surface which onone side merges substantially tangentially with the circular to ovaloutlines of the said side walls and on the other side terminates in acorner-forming wall, returning to meet the side walls having circular tooval outlines, the hollow protrusion forming a box-like cavityaccommodating control apparatus for the heating elements and the controlpanel carrying one or more operating and/or control buttons, touch pads,knobs and/or dials and optionally one or more pilot lights.

In a preferred embodiment the corner forming wall is at a right angle tothe control panel. Preferably the corner-forming wall meets the circularto oval outlines in non-tangential relationship.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the plan view outlines of theside walls are defined at one end by a hemicircle, its two hemicircleends merging tangentially with two parallel straight lines one of whichin turn merges tangentially with the first end of a further circlesegment, whereas the other continues rectilinearly to form the controlpanel, terminating at its far end in said corner forming wall whichlatter meets the second end of said further circle segment. Moreparticularly the outside of the corner-forming wall meets the outside ofthe further circle segment at an obtuse angle.

Preferably the heating elements comprise a first element having circularoutlines and a second element having moon crescent-shaped outlinesadjoining the first element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be further described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an embodiment ofa table top model hot plate or warming plate appliance according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 represents a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents a front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1and 2 and

FIG. 4 represents a vertical section along line IV--IV in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the appliance according to the inventioncomprises a dark coloured glass-like vitreous ceramic top 1 and a body 2made of heat-resistant plastics or enamel coated press-moulded sheetmetal. The body 2 optionally terminates on top in a rim 3 closelycorresponding to the approximately ovaloid outlines of the vitreousceramic top which is supported on an invertly directed shoulder of thebody 2 (not shown) and adhesively bonded thereto in a manner known perse with a silicon adhesive providing a substantially sealingrelationship between the top and the body. The rim 3 may also be omittedin which case the oval outlines of the top of the appliance are formedby the edge of the vitreous ceramic top 1.

The oval outlines of the top 1 correspond essentially to twohemi-circular end portions 4 interconnected by two parallel straightlines 5 merging tangentially with the ends of the s. Except as will beexplained in what follows, the side walls 100 of the body 2 follow asimilar configuration in plan view, being defined at one end by ahemicircle 6 merging tangentially with two parallel rectilinear portions7 and 8 representing the rear and the front respectively of the body 2.The rectilinear rear portions 7 also merge tangentially approximately at9, with the end wall 10 which in plan view follows the outlines of acircle segment having the same radius of curvature as the end portion 6.However, in contrast to the rear wall 7, the front wall 8 in order toform the control panel 102 is continued rectilinearly towards the rightin the drawings beyond the imaginary point of tangential merging withthe circular segment 10, had the latter followed the outlines of a fillhemicircle. This extended rectilinear portion 11 forms a hollowprotrusion 101, which is terminated by a rectangular corner 12 formedbetween the portion 11 and a straight corner forming wall 13 which meetsthe second end of the circle segment shaped wall portion 10 at an obtuseangle at 14.

It will be understood that the principle of the invention could also berealised by causing the portion 11 to extend even further to the rightso that the side wall portion 13 would merge tangentially with thecurved wall portion 10 as indicated by a broken line 13'. It willlikewise be understood that the principle of the invention could equallybe applied to a hot plate having a vitreous ceramic top of circularoutlines in plan view. In that case, the outlines of wall portions 6 and10 would form part of a common single circle and the rectilinear rearwall 7 would fall away. The rectilinear rear wall 7 could also bereplaced by an arcuate wall. It is also not essential for the hemicircle6 and the circular segment 10 to have identical radii of curvature.

As more clearly shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the corner regionformed between the extended straight wall portion 11 and the cornerforming wall 13, forms a box-like cavity in which is accommodated theswitch mechanism 15 operated by a turning dial 16 mounted on the face ofthe switchboard panel 8, 11. The switchboard panel also carries threepilot lights 17, one for each of two heating elements 18 and 19respectively and one being connected to a residual heat sensor (notillustrated) which glows for as long as the hot plate is still above acertain threshold temperature but not necessarily a temperature at whichglowing of the element's heat is visible through the vitreous ceramictop.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, a connecting lead 20 passes by way ofa gland 21 through the end wall 10 to a terminal block 22 accommodatedinside the body 2 and underneath the top 1. The heating elements aremounted in a heating element body of refractory material accommodated ina tray 23, supported by two spring brackets 24. screwed withself-tapping screws 25 (see FIG. 4) onto transverse rigid supportbrackets 26 forming the bottom ends of walls 7, 8. The spring brackets24 push the element assembly with spring action against the underside ofthe top 1.

As will be seen from FIG. 4, the bottom of the body 2 is screened closedby a bottom panel 27, the edges of which are likewise screwed by screws28 to the bottom flanges of the body 2.

Referring once again to FIG. 2 it will be seen that element 18 isconfined within circular outlines, whereas the adjoining element 19,forming an extension of the heated surface area toward the right-handside in FIGS. 1 and 2 as moon-crescent outlines, stretched outlongitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the hot plate to anextent which depends on the elongation of the hot plate.

The claims which follow are to be considered an integral part of thepresent disclosure. Reference numbers (directed to the drawings) shownin the claims serve to facilitate the correlation of the integers of theclaims with illustrated features of the preferred embodiments, but arenot intended to restrict in nay way the language of the claims to whatis shown in the drawings, unless the contrary is clearly apparent fromthe context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A table top model hot plate or warming plateappliance comprising a vitreous ceramic top (1) mounted on a body (2),including peripheral side walls and enclosing one or more heatingelements (18, 19) underneath the vitreous ceramic top (1), the sidewalls (100) of the appliance being upright, and terminating informations, supporting and positioning edges of said vitreous ceramictop which has substantially circular to oval outlines, wherein the sidewalls (100) of the appliance have circular to oval outlines in planview, substantially following the outlines of the vitreous ceramic top(1) except for a hollow protrusion (101) forming a substantially planarcontrol panel surface which on one side merges substantiallytangentially with the circular to oval outlines of the said side walls(100) and on the other side terminates in a corner-forming wall (13),returning to meet the side walls having circular to oval outlines, thehollow protrusion (101) forming a box-like cavity accommodating controlapparatus (115) for the heating elements (18, 19) and the control panelcarrying one or more operating and/or control buttons (96), touch pads,knobs and/or dials and optionally one or more pilot lights (17).
 2. Atable top model as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner forming wall(13) is at a right angle to the control panel (102).
 3. A table topmodel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corner-forming wall (13) meetsthe circular to oval outlines (10) in non-tangential relationship (14).4. A table top model as claimed in claim 2, wherein the corner-formingwall (13) meets the circular to oval outlines (10) in non-tangentialrelationship (14).
 5. A table top model as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe plan view outlines of the side walls (100) are defined at one end bya hemicircle (6), its two hemicircle ends merging tangentially with twoparallel rectilinear portions (7, 8) one of which (7) in turn mergestangentially with the first end of a further circle segment, whereas theother (8) continues rectilinearly to form the control panel (102),terminating at its far end in said corner forming wall (13) which lattermeets the second end of said further circle segment (10).
 6. A table topmodel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plan view outlines of the sidewalls (100) are defined at one end by a hemicircle (6), its twohemicircle ends merging tangentially with two parallel rectilinearportions (7, 8) one of which (7) in turn merges tangentially with thefirst end of a further circle segment, whereas the other (8) continuesrectilinearly to form the control panel (102), terminating at its farend in said corner forming wall (13) which latter meets the second endof said further circle segment (10).
 7. A table top model as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the plan view outlines of the side walls (100) aredefined at one end by a hemicircle (6), its two hemicircle ends mergingtangentially with two parallel rectilinear portions (7, 8) one of which(7) in turn merges tangentially with the first end of a further circlesegment, whereas the other (8) continues rectilinearly to form thecontrol panel (102), terminating at its far end in said corner formingwall (13) which latter meets the second end of said further circlesegment (10).
 8. A table top model as claimed in claim 4, wherein theplan view outlines of the side walls (100) are defined at one end by ahemicircle (6), its two hemicircle ends merging tangentially with twoparallel rectilinear portions (7, 8) one of which (7) in turn mergestangentially with the first end of a further circle segment, whereas theother (8) continues rectilinearly to form the control panel (102),terminating at its far end in said corner forming wall (13) which lattermeets the second end of said further circle segment (10).
 9. A table topmodel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outside of the corner-formingwall (13) meets the outside of the further circle segment (10) at anobtuse angle.
 10. A table top model as claimed in claim 6, wherein theoutside of the corner-forming wall (13) meets the outside of the furthercircle segment (10) at an obtuse angle.
 11. A table top model as claimedin claim 7, wherein the outside of the corner-forming wall (13) meetsthe outside of the further circle segment (10) at an obtuse angle.
 12. Atable top model as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outside of thecorner-forming wall (13) meets the outside of the further circle segment(10) at an obtuse angle.
 13. A table top model as claimed in claim 5,wherein the heating elements comprise a first element having circularoutlines (18) and a second element (19) having moon crescent-shapedoutlines adjoining the first element.
 14. A table top model as claimedin claim 6, wherein the heating elements comprise a first element havingcircular outlines (18) and a second element (19) having mooncrescent-shaped outlines adjoining the first element.
 15. A table topmodel as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heating elements comprise afirst element having circular outlines (18) and a second element (19)having moon crescent-shaped outlines adjoining the first element.
 16. Atable top model as claimed in claim 8, wherein the heating elementscomprise a first element having circular outlines (18) and a secondelement (19) having moon crescent-shaped outlines adjoining the firstelement.